Glassings, brawls and drugs – police fears over problem pub

POLICE have expressed concerns over violence and drink-fuelled chaos at a pub.

Durham Constabulary have been reviewing the licence of the Red Lion in Peterlee after a series of serious incidents.

Officers say if the establishment continued to operate under present conditions, the trouble they have already been called to deal with during the past 12 months will not stop.

A mediation session has led to police and the bar’s legal team agreeing a list of conditions, including the appointment of a new designated premises supervisor to manage the venue, which would see it continue to trade.

On Tuesday, councillors will consider the proposals and could decide to hold a full hearing.

The report prepared for the statutory licensing sub-committee details a host of call-outs to the bar during the past 12 months.

They include an alleged sexual assault on a woman which sparked a fight;

•Glassings;

•A host of assaults;

•Brawling families;

•Drug dealing;

•Under-age drinkers;

•Revellers so drunk they could not tell police their name or how they became injured.

Sergeant Tim Robson had said ahead of mediation that despite discussions with the Burnhope Way bar’s management and small changes being enforced, it has “drifted back to its previous ways” and at that stage did not believe any conditions could be put in place to remedy the issues.

Police have also received complaints from businesses including Asda, Blockbuster and McDonald’s. They have raised concerns about the trail of broken glass, bottles and vomit left behind by drunken revellers.